Norman case sheds light into deliberately dimmed chambers

The lawyer for the former second-in-command of the military says the alleged use of code names to thwart document searches about him is ‘like a spider’s web.’

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, formerly Canada’s second-highest-ranking military officer, leaves court on April 10, 2018 with his lawyer, Marie Henein. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

OTTAWA—Last week, there were numerous twists and turns in the legal tribulations of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman. Formerly Canada’s second-highest-ranking military officer, Vice-Admiral Norman was relieved of his duties in January 2017 and subsequently charged with a single count of breach of trust. The charge stems from the allegation that Vice-Admiral Norman leaked information about a shipbuilding contract to an acquaintance at Davie Shipyard and to a journalist at the CBC. He denies any wrongdoing.

Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines.

SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts say

The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.